County Commons exhibit area in Frisco being improved with new paint, lighting and display cases

The Summit County Commons Lobby Renovation is a project being initiated and managed by the Summit County Arts Exhibit Committee. The renovations, beginning in September, will provide a gallery-like public space to the present artwork of Summit County artists.

Donate to the project

A grant, with a matching component, was awarded from The Summit Foundation in June to facilitate the County Commons project. The Summit County Arts and Exhibit Committee encourages the public to help match the grant by contributing a tax-exempt donation to this project. Donations may be sent to the Summit County Arts Exhibit Committee, PO Box 1855, Frisco, CO 80443.

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The Summit County Arts and Exhibit Committee launched a project Monday to upgrade the exhibition space at the County Commons building in Frisco.

“The county is fortunate to have a variety of excellent art galleries but does not have a space that offers the public a place to view art in a noncommercial gathering space,” according to literature from the Summit County Arts and Exhibit Committee. “When remodeled, the lobby has the potential to be a great art exhibit space where residents and visitors alike can enjoy and appreciate a changing array of art exhibits.”

The goal of the project is to provide Summit County with a gallery-like public space to present work by Summit County artists and, on occasion, artists outside the county. The variety of art that is displayed at the County Commons includes work from children of Summit schools, historic photos of Summit County, watercolors and oil paintings from area artists, photographs and special poster displays for local artistic events. The art rotates to the Community and Senior Center, then to the North Branch Library after being displayed at the County Commons.

Changes and improvements

The second floor lobby area of the County Commons building in Frisco is the site of the project. This space has been used as an exhibit space for 15 years but has always looked more like a lobby than the special art space it can become. And, it is in need of updating and refurbishing.

Major changes and improvements will include:

Lighting upgrades: Currently, the lights in the area obstruct the natural scenery outside the windows and do not adequately illuminate the art hanging on the north wall. Flat ceiling lights will be installed and track lighting is recommended.

Display cases: The current display cases will be updated with new wood finishes, improved glass and interior lighting. In addition, two smaller cases will be added.

Paint: The east and west walls will be painted and accents added on the south wall, behind the cases and around the east entrance.

Signage improvements: The bulletin board areas will be redesigned and moved, as will other necessary pieces of equipment allowing for an uninterrupted space for art.

Work has already started in the lobby area. Bulletin boards, fire extinguishers and strobes have been moved and a new display case for county business notices has been installed. In mid to late September, the existing lights will be removed and new lights will be installed.

Following the installation of the lights, the walls will be painted and/or accented to better display the art. Later in the fall, the display cases will be removed and new wood exteriors will be installed, as well as better glass and interior lighting. The improved cases will be returned in November.

The Summit County Arts and Exhibit Committee, a nonprofit, county committee, is organizing and managing the project. The County Commissioners created the committee in 1994 to choose, install and maintain public art inside and outside the common areas of county buildings. Since then, the committee has placed art and displays in county spaces to provide residents and visitors with an opportunity to view and appreciate a wide variety of art and to meet the artists.